Lake Eyre Trip Suggestions.

[Kippers7]

Hey
I looking for some suggestions for must see locations between Brisbane and Lake Eyre, other than the ones everyone does for an up and coming trip. I am also very interested in doing some station stays if there are any suggestions.
cheers.

[Jabawocky]

I have some experience here.

Places worth considering depending upon the route you choose.

Charleville - Cosmos centre and Bilby's
Innaminka
Kilcowera Station......... THESE FOLK ARE EXCELLENT Kilcowera-Station South West Queensland (http://www.kilcowera.com.au/)

Went to Bonus Downs recently (that gives away the photo thread :oh:) and again great people and look after you very well. Bonus Downs - experience the outback (http://www.bonusdowns.webls.net/)

Another stop off is the Dig Tree.

Depends on how many days you stretch it over and how fast you travel etc. Ask more questions and you will get plenty of answers!

[Sunfish]

Avoid the Marree pub unless you like mice.

[VH-XXX]

That is bull-sh@it Sunfish you must have been in town when a mice plague was around, there are no mice at the pub, I was there this weekend, left on Monday and mate had a tour group there last night. Very comfortable and absolutely spotless for the majestic 1880's pub. There were half a dozen backpackers working there flat out, serving up a lovely buffet dinner and breakfast and I found the experience most enjoyable with the pilot stories at the bar one of the best parts. The pub also has brand new accommodation / cabins outside. Prices range from $70 for a single upwards. The pub is by FAR superior to the caravan park and don't eat pies from the roadhouse, cold and off colour, I won't make that mistake again.

[morno]

Sunfish you're really coming out with some rubbish gems lately

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Lately? :}

[dhavillandpilot]

Good spot to stop over is Thargomindah. Good Motel operator and a nice little town with a good attitude to people travelling through.

As for Marree - you need to understand the politics. Ther Marree Hotel is run by Laurie who is NOT a local, yes he has put in a lot a cabins, but the cost and service is not very good unless you are with a large ground operator who provides most of his business.

The opposition is Lyle who own and runs the Caravan Park/Motel. Again he has put in some 10 new unit, service tends to be better and Lyle has been in Marree for over 30 years so he is counted as a local. Also you need to remember that Lyle also owns the general Store and the fuel in Marree.

Both od these gentleman has a dislike for each other hence what I would call the politics.

If you are going to stay in Marree you should contact Reg Dodd at the Arabunda Resource Centre he does the very best ground tour out to lake Eyre you can get - he takes you to the aboriginal traditional land rather than Level Post bay which is the entry point for ALL the tourist operators.

What ever you decide just remember this town is remote with very limited services and a population this is struggling to keep up with the influx on tourist.

As Lyle has said, all this water is temporary and when it goes no one will give a damm about marree.

Have a good trip and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

[VH-XXX]

I was there as a private visitor and got the same service as everyone else, can't complain. There were 3 buses with groups on one night at the Pub. Food and service was probably better than my last trip there 3 years ago.

I'll go to the establishment where the operator and staff wear nicely washed and ironed shirts versus the same shirt for 4 days.

PS: Lyle has put in 15 new cabins, they are $40-45k each. Appear to be the same brand as the ones at the Pub.

What exactly is a local at Marree, Aboriginal or Arabic? :-)

[Ultralights]

Stay at Lyndhurst... good food. no politics

[NOtimTAMs]

Noccundra pub - taxi right up... ring ahead tho', there's a spring on the strip that can make things mushy with recent rain.

[Desert Flower]

Arabunda Resource Centre

Err, it's actually Arabunna.

DF.

[Worrals in the wilds]

Both of these gentleman has a dislike for each other hence what I would call the politics.


Whoever said small towns are boring...half the time they've got more Politics than Parliament House. :uhoh::E

I'd cast another vote for Thargomindah. Really nice place to stop over. The Dig Tree is also a good place to visit, lovely waterhole but just be aware that the tree doesn't say DIG anymore. This will save you an awful lot of time examining trees and wondering if you've gone nuts. :O

Windorah is also a really friendly place, though it's very small. They have a good motel run by nice people (at least that was the case a couple of years ago. I've been city-bound for too long now :sad:).

[Kippers7]

Thanks for the suggestions.
This is currently a rough route, minus scenic flights at different locations over 5 days in a 182RG.
Any further advice would be appreciated.
Cheers

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff428/kipniak/Screenshot2011-10-02at12822PM.png

[compressor stall]

Is the Marree Man still visible?

[Worrals in the wilds]

Looks fun! :ok: Need a hostie? :}
Be sure to try the Charleville pieshop, though no responsibility taken if it's gone off these days.

If you're into dinosaurs, Lark Quarry (roughly 200km SW of Winton) is worth a stopover, fuel and time permitting. It has an airstrip, though it would pay to check with Winton first. They do scheduled tours of the dinosaur footprints twice a day.
Lark Quarry Dinosaur Trackways - the world's only recorded evidence of a dinosaur stampede! - winton (http://www.dinosaurtrackways.com.au/)

Be sure to book accomodation/campsite in BDV prior to getting there; they don't have a lot and it fills up quickly if there's a 4WD whine-a-long (sorry, tag-a-long ;)) tour blowing through.

[VH-XXX]

From what I've heard you'd have to know the area really well to be able to spot it these days.... not much of it left.

[Jabawocky]

That much fun is not legal.:}

WITW ...... You will go to any length ;)

[tinpis]

Aaa... Lyndhurst South Australia, can count myself fortunate to have dined there in the days of Leigh Creek FSU
Lovely lady did a full silver service meal with all trimmings.Anyone else experience that?